Valve has already done the hard part with Steam Deck. It proved that a portable gaming PC can provide a console-like experience while still being functional and fun. With the Steam Deck OLED, the company has only sharpened this approach with a better screen, a bigger battery, and a number of smart improvements.
So Steam Deck 2 doesn’t need to chase a new identity. The current Steam Deck is flawless, but it also doesn’t need to win some pointless battle. What I’m really looking for is a combination of quality of life improvements and hardware improvements that enhance experience in meaningful ways.
Give me a better screen, but make it work harder to work well
The Steam Deck OLED already has a great display. Valve’s decision to move to OLED, a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, and a larger 7.4-inch screen made for a welcome refresh, and I would absolutely want OLED to return to the Steam Deck 2. But strangely, Valve is holding back on one feature that could make a big difference: the built-in VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). This omission is really catchy as VRR is very useful for portable applications like this.
It can help games feel smoother without forcing the system to chase hard framerate targets, and that can translate to better battery life. Oddly enough, the Steam Deck OLED doesn’t support VRR on other external displays via USB-C, not on its own screen. Give the Steam Deck 2 a 120Hz OLED panel and smooth VRR, and it’ll be on par with the competition.
Battery life and charging need a big jump
Battery life is still the biggest quality battleground for portable PCs. Valve has made significant improvements with the OLED model, thanks to its larger 50Wh battery and better performance. However, it didn’t take long for reviews to show that heavy titles can still out-Deck’s OLED quickly.
A bigger battery can make a real difference. The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is a good comparison with its large 80Wh cell. So even something in the 70Wh range on the Steam Deck 2 would go a long way in making the system feel a little more strapped to the charger.
Charging also requires love. Valve ships the Steam Deck with 45W of power, and while the 20% to 80% figures sound decent on paper, fully charging still takes longer than I’d like. Sleep behavior also needs work. With current models, battery drain during sleep has been one of the most discussed issues in the community. Quick wake-up only works if the device doesn’t silently burn out of battery while sitting on a bag or table.
Replaceable Battery?
This is a tall order request, but a replaceable battery on the Steam Deck 2 would be amazing. To be fair, Valve has already made the OLED easier to repair than the original, with Torx screws and better internal access. And as the EU continues to push harder on removable and replaceable battery regulations for portable electronics, there’s at least an unlimited chance that portable devices could eventually benefit from that change.
Major focus on core controllers and hardware
To make Steam Deck 2 future proof, I have a few selfish questions.
First, give it two USB-C ports, because one still feels too limited for a handheld PC that also needs the same charging port. One of those would be Thunderbolt. This isn’t an isolated wishlist item—users on the Steam Deck subreddit have been asking for an additional port for a while now. We also need more memory room. 16GB feels like the bare minimum now, not a comfortable target.
On the control side, I’d like Valve to take a serious look at TMR joystick sensors instead of solving the old Hall Effect debate. TMR is gaining traction because it offers the same broad appeal of a “drifting-resistant magnetic rod” while using much less power. The company has already given it a go with its new Steam controller, which uses TMR magnetic dual thumbsticks. So it’s more than just an unconventional technological advancement, it’s fitting into Valve’s vision of a “normative leap” in technology.
Steam Deck 2 doesn’t need to stand out
The valve does not require the fastest or most efficient hand grip on the market. It just needs Steam Deck 2 to stick to the strengths of the original, and refine the experience even further.
Even if the company doesn’t deliver all of the aforementioned improvements, I’m still going to trust Valve to get the formula right. The company has never looked more interested in trying to follow the industry. It just stood out because it was willing to take a good idea, keep trying (like the first Steam machine), and develop it without being distracted by the rest of the market.
As one of my favorite YouTubers, DJ Peach Cobbler, put it: “Valve isn’t the most successful company despite its failures, it’s the most successful because it’s willing to fail.”
